There are many better brokers for shorting than E*trade. For example, look at all the shares that Interactive Brokers has to short: https://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/?f=%2Fen%2Ftrading%2FSearchShortableStocks.php%3Fcntry%3Dusa%26amp%3Btag%3DUnited%2520States%26amp%3Bib_entity%3Dllc%26amp%3Bln%3D Even the best brokers won't have shares to short all the time. Disclosure: IB has been one of my main brokers for 7 years.